Craftstravaganza

Pronounced: Craft-stra-va-gan-za
Craftstravaganza is an annual alt- (as in alternative) art and craft sale held on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul each spring. My friend Allison, who does beautiful letterpress printing and her own books through Igloo Press, and I put together an application for the one-day sale and last night we were notified that we were accepted!
The alt-craft current is having so much fun with craft. Many of the crafters seem to be in their 20's and 30s and are having way more fun with craft than I've seen in a long time. Vintage styles are favorites, images are as diverse as flowers or skulls, and everything, really, is fair-game for someone's imagination. Crafters use the web to promote much of their work, find great central locations for sales and fairs and don't invest in much of an all year 'round presence. It's sort of dive-bombing for craft sales. The New York Times took notice in December and looked at the unique business models of these artists.
I visited this sale last year. For 355 days of the year our beautiful fairgrounds are mostly quiet. There are weekend shows in a few buildings, but nothing like the madhouse of our State Fair in August. Craftsravaganza holds its sale in the Fine Arts building on the fairground campus and allow just 75 exhibitors. Arranged in two rings to make it easy to wander through, you see everything without feeling overwhelmed. Last year, there were beautiful felted rugs, patchwork diaper covers, great dresses and skirts, silk-screened T's with fabulous graphics and of course, lots and lots of jewelry.
Allison and I will be having coffee soon to discuss the specifics of our table: banners? twinkle lights? It's all very fun. If you live in the Twin City area, put April 26 on your calendar!